More money, more problems! - KSAFA bans six clubs from Jackie Bell KO

Maverley-Hughenden's Phillip Peddie (left) goes up for a header with Waterhouse's Romario Campbell in a Red Stripe Premier League encounter at the Drewsland Stadium during their stint in the top flight of local football last season.

The Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) has banned six clubs from participating in this season's JN Bank-sponsored Jackie Bell Knockout competition due to monies owed.

KSAFA General Secretary Dwayne Dillon confirmed that the clubs were banned from participating in this season's tournament because of unserviced debt and warned that a solid financial standing is a pre-requisite for participation in future tournaments.

"The matters were financially related. One of the things with KSAFA is that you have to be in good financial standing to be a member [and] to participate in competitions," Dillon told The Gleaner yesterday.

"The clubs would have funds outstanding to KSAFA, and we had taken a decision that if the monies were not cleared, the clubs could not participate in the Jackie Bell this season," Dillon added.

"It is not a JN matter. This is between KSAFA and the clubs. Whether it be the JN situation or otherwise, this will be ongoing. We are trying to ensure that our clubs operate in the right way," he further explained.

"The competition has started, so the teams cannot be reinstated this season. The teams will have to clear up their balances for participation in future competitions. This is not something that is new; before the start of last year's competitions, we asked the teams to be in good financial standings," the KSAFA general secretary insisted.

"We got a number of the teams to be compliant in order to start the Major and Super League seasons. We want to ensure that our clubs operate on a particular level," he added.

Dillon would not say how much was owed by the clubs.

"I will not disclose the amount owing by the clubs. However, clubs have called, but it would be good for them to settle up in order to compete in the upcoming youth leagues. But for the Jackie Bell this season that is history," he concluded.

The Gleaner was reliably informed that the monies are owed as a result of clubs abusing credit cards given by the sponsors ahead of last year's competition. The clubs had abused the credit cards and went above the $12,000 granted to each club. Each credit card had a maximum limit of $50,000.

Meanwhile, in response the JN issued a brief release stating underlining that the decision to ban the clubs was taken by KSAFA.

"Final decisions about participating teams in the JN Bank/KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout Competition are the sole responsibility of the organisers of the tournament. JN Bank has been a supporter of the competition for many years and remains committed to the development of football in Jamaica," said the release from Leon Mitchell, chief marketing officer, JN Group.

JN Bank, as title sponsor of the Jackie Bell competition, has contributed $3 million to the competition that kicked off last weekend with seven first-round games.